This "landlord's daughter" can jiak 

The same way they secured jobs for engineers in the 90s? The same way they secured jobs for IT folks after the dot com blast? The same way they secured jobs when their mistake in semi-con made us lose the market...  

Tenant wins court award in air-con row with HDB landlord | The Straits Times   https://www.straitstimes.com/business/air-con-row-between-night-shift-nurse-and-hdb-landlord-ends-with-1536-court-award-for-tenant   Full Details: Night-Shift Nurse Wins $1,536 Award in Air-Con Dispute with HDB Landlord   Source: The Straits Times, published July 9, 2026; judgment grounds released July 7, 2026       Case Background   A Malaysian nurse working rotating night shifts at a public hospital rented a common bedroom in a 5-room HDB flat under a 1-year tenancy starting September 2024, paying $800 monthly rent. She shared the flat with another Malaysian nurse (her friend), while the landlord’s daughter and son-in-law occupied the master bedroom.   Because they slept during the day, the nurses negotiated a special clause: each could use air-conditioning for up to 8 hours daily, any time of day – unlike typical agreements that restrict use to night hours. The magistrate called this “a practical arrangement that made good sense”.       How the Dispute Started   The landlord’s daughter objected: though each nurse stayed within their 8-hour limit, their differing schedules meant the compressor sometimes ran up to 16 hours daily. She then:   - Harassed the nurses by shouting in common areas - Cut off the air-con’s main power to disrupt their sleep   On Nov 1, 2024, she gave three ultimatums:   1. Raise rent to $1,000/month to keep daytime air-con use 2. Stay at $800/month but only use air-con 11pm–7am 3. Move out immediately   - Threatened daily harassment if they refused   The nurses gave notice to leave by end-November 2024. After moving out, the landlord withheld both $800 security deposits. The friend won her claim first; this case was the second filing.       Court Proceedings & Landlord’s Conduct   Both represented themselves at the Small Claims Tribunals (SCT). The landlord:   - Missed the August 2025 first hearing, claiming a broken leg – her medical certificate failed court requirements, so the magistrate adjourned to give her another chance - Again failed to appear September 30, 2025. The judge ruled in the nurse’s favour after hearing evidence, awarding $1,536.47 (including the $800 deposit) - Tried to set aside the default judgment later, saying she could not walk and asked for Zoom – but could not produce valid proof or explain why she did not tell her doctor she needed court excuse papers. The magistrate called her explanation “hollow” and said she “deliberately stayed away” when it did not suit her   Magistrate Leon Abraham Tan criticised her “airy disregard” for court dates and “conspicuous lack of respect for the judicial process”, dismissing her application.       Why the Landlord Lost on Merits   All justifications for keeping the deposit were rejected:   - ❌ Improper visitors/immoral acts: No tenancy rule required permission for guests; no evidence provided - ❌ Excess air-con use: Both stayed within the agreed 8-hour daily cap per person - ❌ Early termination: No clause allowed deposit forfeiture for this - ❌ Higher electricity bills: Rent was fixed – the landlord accepted bill fluctuations as part of the bargain. “A bad bargain is not a basis for forfeiture”   In the friend’s earlier case, the landlord claimed bedframe damage because the tenant was “very big and heavy” (alleged 150kg). The judge called this “grossly inaccurate” and dismissed it.       Key Takeaways   - Written agreed terms bind both parties – special arrangements for shift workers are enforceable - Security deposits cannot be withheld without valid, proven reasons in the contract - Parties must attend court when required; deliberate absence leads to adverse rulings - Fixed rent includes utility cost risks – landlords cannot claw back extra bills from deposits    

Zero capital gains tax .. Tax rates also low, and can bang it down even further using other legal means Can use English Good education for children and safe. Though children once hit early teenage, easily shuttled off to Europe for education Can fly in in out out in private planes   Government also happy can add huge numbers to GDP, without too much additon to spending   Sinkies is ownself claim important part la, the ones who train here in the existing fabs just get to go to Murica where they settle down permanently after finding the cheaper property prices, higher salaries and lower living costs and stress  

Do Singapore ministers watch films? Joke raises hackles amid dialect debate   https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3359859/do-singapore-ministers-watch-films-parliament-joke-raises-hackles-amid-dialect-debate?share=%2FN0Z6S%2BtfIQ0r%2Bhg%2Fbjt6wO%2FoCIu%2FSMoByHtsvTCMDkMK1wJxXOzSb%2BgHd0rRzLira%2FvtEngZ0i5BM0jDY5K%2BsbTKE1Hb25F3LRpDFHsyME%3D&utm_campaign=social_share     The article from the *South China Morning Post* covers a public and parliamentary backlash in Singapore following a comment made by **Acting Culture, Community and Youth Minister David Neo** during a serious debate regarding dialect restrictions in media. Here are the full details of what transpired:   ### 🎬 The Catalyst: The *Dear You* Dialect Debate   The controversy sits against the backdrop of the hit Chinese film ***Dear You***, which was originally shot in the **Teochew dialect**. Under Singapore's long-standing broadcast and film policies—historically tied to the *Speak Mandarin Campaign* initiated in 1979—films in dialects typically must be dubbed into Mandarin for commercial general releases.   However, intense public demand and pushback led authorities to grant an exception, allowing over 250 special screenings of *Dear You* in its original Teochew language. This reignited a passionate national conversation about whether old policies restricting dialect broadcasting remain relevant, or if they are actively suffocating cultural heritage and connections with older generations.   ### 🏛️ The Parliamentary Exchange During a parliamentary session on **July 7, 2026**, Workers' Party MP **Kenneth Tiong** (representing Aljunied GRC) raised questions in Mandarin regarding the government's stance. He noted that his Teochew-speaking residents frequently asked why they weren't allowed to watch films in their native tongue, and asked a direct follow-up:   > *"Which version of Dear You did Ministers watch? Was it the Teochew or Mandarin version?"* >  Responding in Mandarin, Acting Minister David Neo quipped: > **"Ministers have no time to watch movies."** >  While the joke drew laughter from members inside the House, it severely misfired with the public online.   ### 😡 Why the Joke "Raised Hackles" Netizens, cultural advocates, and local figures immediately slammed the comment across platforms like Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads as **"out of touch," "condescending,"** and **"arrogant"** for several reasons:    1. **The Double Standard:** Netizens quickly pointed out the irony, uploading photos showing that several ruling People's Action Party (PAP) ministers *had* recently attended community screenings of *Dear You* alongside residents, completely debunking the "no time" alibi. Other sarcastically asked how ministers found time to sing on stage at events or watch football if they were "too busy" for cinema.    2. **Trivializing Cultural Identity:** Local author and influencer Crystal Lim-Lange noted in a viral TikTok that dialect heritage isn't just a clinical policy matter; it is an "identity thing" tightly bound to family roots and emotions. A "throwaway joke" from the minister heading the *Culture* portfolio felt dismissive and disrespectful.    3. **Evading the Core Question:** The joke allowed the minister to dodge a structural policy question regarding whether the government's ultimate objective is to promote Mandarin or actively suppress dialects.   ### 🔄 The Government's Policy Stance Beyond the immediate PR stumble, the session did highlight a shifting perspective on language regulations in Singapore.    * Acting Minister Neo clarified that the government views dialect artistic materials as a valued part of Singapore’s unique Chinese cultural heritage rather than an existential threat or competitor to Mandarin.    * Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Tan Kiat How, confirmed that in response to public interest, the government has approved a total of **272 original dialect screenings** of *Dear You* and is officially **reviewing its current film classification framework** regarding dialect usage.